Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Siempre y en todo lugar en Argentina

Blame it on Rio's politicians. The gauchos have seen it before; Inflation is once again the main topic in Argentinean politics.

And el diciembre is the cruelest month;

This is a sensitive issue given that December is usually the most
problematic month in Argentina, coinciding with Christmas shopping and
coming just before the summer vacation period in the Southern
Hemisphere. It is the month during which rioters have raided shops and
supermarkets, leading to a dozen deaths in 2012 and several other
casualties in 2013. Perhaps in order to avoid unrest, San Luis’ governor
has announced a 2,000-peso bonus (€184) for government employees. La
Rioja’s governor is also offering 300 to 400 pesos (€27 to €36) in extra
pay.

So those who can, trade in el dinero de dólar;

...one Buenos Aires taxi driver who prefers to remain anonymous said: “I
get paid and I buy dollars. I get paid and I buy dollars. I get paid and
I buy ... My wife and I work on the Ministry of Security’s
administrative staff. We live on what I make with the taxi. And we
invest our salaries in dollars. That way we save, we make sure inflation
does not it eat into it. Ten years ago a trip to the Caribbean cost
$1,500 – same as today. But it’s much more in pesos. Then they might
tell you that you don’t believe in the country, that you have to spend
pesos, but the peso is not worth anything after a few months.”